Thank you, NetGalley, for my ARC of The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz! 🖤

I wanted to love this psychological suspense debut more than I ended up actually feeling toward the execution, unfortunately. Everything from the wintry book cover to the unique plot, the “book within a book” factor, the personable characters, the writing process insight, and the high premise stakes all intrigued me! The idea of a retreat for writers, full of eccentric drama and creepy foundations, that goes terribly wrong has such an interesting pull! While I was so sure I would be sucked in to these riveting elements toward one of my favorite genres, I surprisingly had a challenging time painting a vivid mental image of multiple scenes due to the style of writing and phrasing. I found myself returning back to the top of the pages to re-read many points in attempt to connect a bit better, which disrupted my desired escaped flow and caused my attention to divert in various directions.
Part One of The Writing Retreat took me the longest to consume to the point that when Part Two hit, I had forgotten there were even parts of section within the book. Parts Two & Three finally picked up a bit for me and dove into the interesting mystery that I wanted to indulge in. However, the concluding Part Four did not have that final elation I crave, nor the twist component I pleasurably anticipate in my treasured thrillers.

{Disclaimer: Considering the fact that I read speedily on my kindle, I assumed I would soak in this eBook quickly. However, I could not adjust to the differences of the NetGalley eBook via phone as well as my kindle settings permit for me to conveniently adapt. This quite possibly could have been a more wholesome reading experience if I had been able to download this ARC to my Kindle, or obtained the physical copy of the book in hopes of better connection.}

My sentiments toward this book could, also, stem from the debut aspect of composition, so I look very much forward to further literary works from Bartz!

Publication Date: February 21, 2023
I am rating this one 2.5⭐️, rounded up to a 3 ⭐️ for GR.

What a flop. The premise of this sounded so promising but ultimately it failed to capture my attention and I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters or storyline. It started out strange enough that I was intrigued but quickly found myself skimming. One of the main problems was it felt like everything but the kitchen sink was thrown in here in very extreme ways for shock value (I’m all for spice but I draw the line at hallucinating cringy sexual experiences with a demon…call me boring I guess) and so it felt like a total hodge podge when I think with narrowed down editing it would’ve been much better. If I’m counting down the pages for a thriller to end instead of being unable to set it down because I HAVE to know what happens I know it was a miss for me. That being said, I know a lot of people picked this as their BOTM so I’m hoping I’m an outlier here! It is most definitely a wild ride of a book, I’ll give it that.

An aspiring author is accepted into a month long writing retreat hosted by her literary idol at her isolated and possibly haunted mansion. The situation quickly proves to be more than she bargained for… not to mention among the other attendees is her ex-best friend. This was twisty and entertaining, but definitely cringey at times. Pretty average thriller overall, but would be great for getting out of a reading slump.

3.5 stars rounded up

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz is an absorbing psychological thriller and a sophisticated debut novel.
Alex, a writer with writer’s block, is struggling with interpersonal relationships with her long-time friends. She is star-struck by prominent artist Roza Vallo, and manages to snag an invitation to Vallo’s annual month-long writers’ retreat in a gothic mansion in upstate New York, where Alex hopes to find inspiration among other writers.
The story is told from the POV of Alex, and it draws the reader in with excellent descriptive writing and a plot line complex with human drama, strong female issues, and dream-like sequences. I found it a mesmerizing read. While there is some violence and captivity, it is not gratuitous and adds to the tension and momentum of the plot. No spoilers here, the action is compelling and moves toward an exciting conclusion!
I recommend this novel to readers who like works featuring strong contemporary female issues and relationships, and immersive psychological suspense by an exciting new author.

Thank you to EmilyBestler Books/Atria and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I didn't care for this one. The pace was slow and the early days of the retreat felt like mean girls picking on each other at a slumber party. When things actually did start to happen, it got very silly very fast. (I know, it was supposed to be scary, but I couldn't suspend my disbelief anywhere near enough to appreciate the actual purpose of the retreat.)

As a Nanowrimo veteran, I ate up the idea of a month-long writing challenge with actual stakes—not just the deadly ones that come into play, but the "make your word count or you're out" rule at the beginning. That might be the most terrifying part of this book! Not to say the deadlier stakes aren't scary. There were a few directions I thought this story might go, but after the midpoint it took a turn I wasn't expecting, and I appreciated both the surprise and how far it leaned into horror.

Sadly, that's where the pros end for me, because this book is a case of great premise, poor execution.

The writing is amateurish: bland prose, clumsy exposition, surface-level character development, eye-rolling melodrama, and blatantly on-the-nose plot structuring—including the protagonist's awkward yet convenient epiphany of the story's theme. It reads like something I might've written as a teenager, or the first draft of a (possibly Nanowrimo) novel that was never edited. Despite the interesting turn the plot took, the quality of the writing kept it from ever being exciting or suspenseful—and kept me from ever feeling invested in or rooting for the characters.

One last thing that truly bothered me. We get excerpts from the novel the protagonist writes through the retreat, and though it suffers from all the same problems I just listed, every other character is constantly raving over her 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭 story and saying what a 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 for writing she has. One or two words of praise would've been fine, but it was more than excessive. It felt like the author patting herself on the back, and I do not think it was deserved.

This would make an excellent horror movie, but as a novel, it just didn't work for me.

Alex, a struggling writer, is about to give up on her dreams, when her idol, famed author Roza, invites her to a month long writing retreat. She is excited but weary knowing her former best friend, but now estranged Wren will also be attending.

This was a "locked door" thriller which added to the suspense. Bartz did a great job at setting the scene, of this gothic mansion. I also appreciated the pacing of this novel, as things moved pretty quickly.

I liked the first 1/3 but then things went off the rails a little bit. The books within the book was distracting. For me when books are too implausible or absurd, I lose interest.

This was not my fav but still a solid debut and I will read more by this author.

This book is a wild ride. I was excited for the premise of an isolated retreat and a bunch of writers (some of my favorite themes). I was quickly invested in the backstory of Alex and Wren's ruined friendship and the mystery of the retreat itself. As the story went on I got a bit lost in the twists and the ending really threw me for a loop. I certainly stayed committed to finding out how the plot wrapped up but I didn't love the final few chapters. I think I will be in the minority with my opinion and I think many mystery readers will love this one! Thanks to Julia Bartz, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Everything about this sounded right up my alley and I couldn’t wait to dive in. It did start out very strong. It has been a long time since I was so into a book I stayed up way past my bedtime furiously reading. The first half of this book did that to me. I loved the vibes it was giving out at one point. Reminiscent of sleepovers at friends houses where we told scary stories and did dares and seances and “OKAY, i’m actually officially creeped out and have chills” moments. The second half of book took a direction that didn’t work as well for. It felt too over the top and got old after awhile. While I still enjoyed it and my interest was held, it ended with some disappointment. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The book is about a competition between writers who are chosen to attend this retreat. They're given a deadline and they have to write an entire novel. Some of the writers develop a camaraderie, however strange things happen and an unraveling ensues of what is going on behind the scenes.

This book would appeal to writers, fans of dark academia, and a younger generation. I definitely wanted to finish the book to figure out the ending. There's a lot of intrigue and suspense, and I think that thriller fans would enjoy the story. The writer did an excellent job.

This book sounds really interesting, but I couldn’t get through it due to it starting off with so much language. I think this would definitely be a good book for people that don’t care about that and want a good thriller!

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz is a promising debut. The book follows Alex as she goes on a month long writing retreat at her idol Roza Vallo’s home. Her ex best friend is also there and tensions run high between them.

This is a slow burn, claustrophobic, locked room mystery with supernatural elements. It explores female friendship, competition between women, and the writer’s process. The book starts out slow and then kicks into overdrive at the halfway point with twists and revaluations galore.

If you are a fan of Rebecca or other gothic novels, I highly recommend this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
- books about books 📚
- wintery thriller
- slow burn
- LGBTQ representation

Alex thinks she’s in for the ultimate trip of a lifetime when she is chosen to attend a writing retreat with one of her favourite authors, after first being passed over for the competition for being too old. The retreat will be held at a haunted estate, so we know only good things are in store for our characters … 🤣
I love books about books 🤪 so I knew right away I was going to love this one!
I don’t know what it is about snowy, wintery thrillers but something about the atmosphere and creepiness.. I absolutely love them!
I love illustrations at the start of the chapters! They make my little heart happy and almost brings back the nostalgia of reading picture books when I was younger 💕
This book was all over the place in the best way possible!! I had no idea where the book was going, or even what was going on really… until the very end when all the pieces came together.
I love the cat vs. mouse chase where the prey is trying to get out of the building without getting murdered 🤪
This book was definitely a slowwww burn, but it was all worth it for the ending! Wow! I really, really enjoyed this one and hope to read more by this author in the future!

Book: The Writing Retreat
Author: Julia Bartz
Publisher: Atria Books
Pub Date: February 21, 2023

Meh. First of all I liked the plot. All of these writers going to a retreat and competing for a cash prize and then come to find out Roza is doing it all for herself. Great story. Just not that well told. The writing was very slow at times and I started skimming to get to the end. For some reason it felt like The Shining. Kind of. I didn’t find it scary at all or really have that much action. I didn’t find any of the characters relatable which made me speed read to finish.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is February 21, 2023.

The Writing Retreat is described as The Plot meets Please Join Us. This is pretty fitting. The concept isn't wholly new or unique.

Alex, the narrator, is an aspiring writer who is offered the chance of a lifetime — to meet her idol Roza Vallo and get expert feedback on her novel.

But there are a few catches that start setting the tension immediately. Wren, the perfect, lovable, beautiful , ex-bestie of Alex will also be in attendance. Roza also informs the five women who make the final cut for the exclusive retreat that they must begin an entirely new work upon arrival. Excerpts from the book Alex is writing are used to fill in the history of the house and the background for the ghostly elements.

I thought Alex's growth as a character was the best part of the book. She gains confidence and becomes her own hero. The reason this is a 4 ⭐ book for me was the ending was... Weird? Rushed? I don't know. It's like the pace for the novel completely switched up, all of the characters shit out their common sense, and the whole detailed, methodical explanations were thrown out in favor of an explosive, girls going gangbusters ending. I also thought some of the sexual elements in the book didn't contribute to the story and detracted from the original tone of the book.

It's a quick read, hard to walk away from, and entertaining. Thanks NetGalley!

I received The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz as an arc via NetGalley a little while back. I knew it was coming out later this month so I decided it was time to dig into this book. Then, when I was about 30% through, BOTM had it in their Feb picks. I snagged it because I was loving it.

The book hooked me with its premise. It’s about five writers being selected to attend a writing retreat in a gothic mansion. The host of the retreat Rosa Vallo, a famous, yet mysterious horror author. She’s published several books that have left audiences wanting more.

While at this retreat, odd things start happening. And when one writer mysteriously vanishes and is presumed dead, things quickly take a turn to the dark side.

I had a love hate relationship with this book. I loved how addicting this book was. It kept me hooked, staying up late to read a few more chapters. I also loved the story inside a story aspect. Not to mention the idea of having writers write 3000 words per day for 29 days in a row. The winner would receive a book deal and a sizeable advance.

While the writing itself was great and kept me flying through the book, I had some problems with the vulgarity featured in the book. This book had some explicit erotic scenes that really pulled me out of the mystery and from the story itself. And the ending had me wanting more. I didn’t understand some of the decisions the main antagonist made.

This book is a perfect fast-paced, wintery read.

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. I ended up DNF’ing it 30% in. I struggle with stories about women competing against women, women who are out to destroy other women. It just comes across as catty and immature and I struggle when reading about it. I also had a very strong dislike to Roza. Someone who gets off on exposing others secrets and intimate situations-it’s just a no thanks for me. At the end of the day I just wasn’t enjoying this one so I’m calling it.

The Writing Retreat was a very good read to me! It has drama, betrayal, friendship, and dark twists that got me on the edge!

This book is fast-paced, dark and crazy! I really recommend it.

Add to your TBR now, it's so worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this awesome digital copy with me in exchange of my honest review.

Wow! this is one creepy book. It gave me all the chills and couldn't help but wonder who was going to make it out of this crazy locked thriller alive? Roza was seriously twisted pscho and master manipulator getting other people to do her dirty work. She claimed all the fame and fortune without having to do the hard work. Yikes! Omg, learning the truth of how she got to the top by killing others and taking their work was so diabolical.

I liked how Alex's character changed from one wimpy person to one who takes charge and felt comfortable in her own skin at the end. Glad her and Wren were able to talk and work through their issues and clear the air.

what a debut for @juliabartz! Loved this book 👏🏽 Thank you so much to @netgalley & @atriabooks for the advanced copy! The publishing date is February 21st, so mark your calendars.

This writing retreat should be a writer's dream considering it’s with a famous author at her massive mansion, but that is not the case here. With 5 aspiring authors, an untrustworthy host, a spooky setting, and an unconventional practice.. this is very much a “whodunnit” story that leaves you trying to figure out who can & cannot be trusted along the way.

If you love a suspenseful “whodunnit” story, then this is the book for you!! I loved this thriller and all of the themes that were included. Although the first half was slow in my opinion, the second half was a nail-biter and I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it! Like it was one of those “I should go to bed but I can’t stop reading” type of ending, so this would translate well into a movie because it's full of surprises.

Themes in the book:
〰️ alternating timelines (past & present)
〰️ ex-best friends
〰️ figuring out sexual identity
〰️ violence
〰️ paranormal blending w/ reality

I highly recommend it & I can't wait for Julia's next book!